Cheeking machine



Marh-17, 1931. BALLARD ETAL 1,796,277

CHEEKING MACHINE Filed Jan. 3, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet l H A. I LARD ET AL March 17, 1931' I CHEEKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sh 3 Filed Jan. 5, 1928 Mar h 7, 3 H. BALLARD ETAL 1796,277

' CHEEKING ucumn Filed Jan. 3, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig/0 Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE- HARRIE A. BALLARD, or BEVERLY, AND OLAF rr. HOELSLOCK, or LYNN, MASSACHU- SETTS, ASSIGNORSTO THE TURNER T ANIIING MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PORT- LAND, MAINE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE CHEEKING MACHINE Application filed Jlanuary 3, 1928. Serial No. 244,231.

This-invention relates to cutting machines and is illustrated as embodied in a machine for splitting off from'thethick parts of the heads and necks of hides and skins portions representing a thicknessv in excess of the thickness of the body parts of the same hides and skins. It is-to be understood, however, that the invention. and various important features thereof may have other applications and uses v I -Machines for reducingfithe thicker head and neck portions of hides and skins to the thickness of the body portions thereof are c'ommonly'referred to as cheeking machines. As heretofore constructed these machines were provided with a knife or other cutter which had to be adjusted by the operator to suit the requirements of the work. In order to insure that the reduced portion of a hide or skin, secured by splitting off the ex cess thickness, would correspond in thickness to the remainder of the hide or skin, it was necessary for the operator to make the required adjustment of the cutter with considerable care. Furthermore, because of the time factor the operator was frequently induced toomit adjustmentsof the cutterexcept the relatively coarse adjustments for given batches of sorted work, no adjustment being made foreach individual piece of work unless special circumstances should demand it. V

Itjis an object of this invention to provide a cutting machine of the type referred to in which the cutter will be quickly adjusted for each and :every piece of work thus making it possible to secure uniformly satisfactory results. It is a further object of the invention to provide a machine which will require less efiort and less skill on the part of the operator while at the same time making possible a substantial increase in production.

' To these ends and in accordance with important features of the invention there is provided, inc-the illustrated machine, means for gaging the thickness of the body portion of a hide or skin andautomatically adjusting the cutter in accordance therewith so that the thickness of the head and neck may be reduced a predetermined amount corresponding to the thickness of the body portion of the hide or skin. Conveniently, the cutter has associated therewith a gaging member mounted so that cutter and gaging member move together relatively to a gaied er eportion of the work before the cutt 'comesoperative to split off the excess thickness portions. In the illustrated machine, the cutter and gaging members are mounted upon a yielding cutter head which rotates about an axis to bring the gaging member in contact with the body portion of the hide or skin where it is backed by a work support, the construction and arrangement being such that the cutter head yields under the control of the gaging member thereby adjusting the cutter to the gaged thickness of the body portion of the. hide or skin. Conveniently, the gaging member is constructed to serve also as a spreader member to spread out the hide or skin in front of the advancing cutter. While, as illustrated, both the cutter and the gage move together in their adjustment to the thickness of the work only the cutter is looked after adjustment since itis desirable that the gage which is also the spreader should be able to adjust itself to unusually thick portions of the work so as not to damage these portions by undue pressure. To increase the effectiveness of the illustrated cutter, it is given a movement in the direction of its length to effect a drawing cut on the work at the same time that it is moving bodily along through the work.

As illustrated, two cutter heads, each with a cutter and a gage, are provided, the construction and arrangement being such that in any given operation one cutter checks the hide or skin and the machine comes to rest with the other cutter in position to operate so that a cutter is always closely adjacent to a piece of work newly placed on the work support and thus in position to start cutting operations promptly, in this way increasing the As 1llus- These and other features of the weight serves to Withdraw all of the hide: or 1 skin fromthe machine as soon as the reducing operation has been completed.

invention will be described in detail in the specification and pointed out more particularly'in the appended claims. f

' In the drawings, I Fig. 1 i'sa sectional view of a machine it lustrating'one embodiment of the invention, the section being along the line II of Fig.

IO-looking in the direction of the arrows Fig. 2is a'detail view illustratingflthe oper ating means for one of the. clamp lever arms;

Fig. 3 is a similar View showing also'the relation of the cam-for operating the clamp lever arnr with respectto'ithe cutter for opcrating on thework; V Y Y Fig; 4 is a View similar toFig. 3' with the parts in a diifierentposition;

. ii g llis an. enlarged detail view'ofthe cutter and its immediate supporting means;

' oc1amp:forthe-work;

' Fig. 12 is a detail of the locking paw-ls which holdv the cutter head. in. adjusted position;a"nd@ Fig.1 13 is a detail View of another form In": the illustrated cheekingi machine there is providedv awork support 14 having a concave cylindrical surface 16- which supports a piece of, work 18? during the operation ofthe cutters,- as will be hereinafter descril' e'c'l.v In Fig; 5-,. the edge oifthe work support'l4 over which the piece of work 1 8 is to be thrown is proazidedi with a yielding clamping member 20;. extending along. the length of the support 14 and. supported by a plurality of plungers 22 .each: adapted to: be: received in a closely fitting: socket 24 in. a socket member 25' tormedas part of the work support 14, each plunger 22being; provided with a socket 26 1 adapted; to'receive a spring 28 constructed 'ten'sionof thes-prings 28 a plurality of screw and arrangedyielidingly to support its associ ate'dv plunger 22 and, the clamping member 262,. as wi'll be evident from-an inspection of Figs; 5 and 10;. In order to retain the clamping member 2Otfro1n displacement due to the threaded bolts are provided one for each socket-24 one of these bolts being'shown-qat 30in Fig. 5 as extending through thesocket member 25': of the work support 14 and through the coiled spring 28 and screw threaded into its, associated plunger 22 the adjustable nuts'31 of the bolt'serving as a stop to limit the upward movement of the plunger 22 and thus of the clamping 'member 20. For adjusting the tension of the spring 28 a sleeve member 33--is screw threaded into the socketmember 25 and surrounds the bolt 30 to press upwardly against the lower end of the spring28i':

For co-operationwith the clamping member 20 which hasa concave clamping-surface 32, in duplicate, there is-provided' a cylindrical clamping member 34, inflduplioate,

having a convex fluted surface for co-operation with the concave surface 32 in securely gripp ng the work sothat t may'beretained against movement during the" o'peratlon I of the cutters. As'shownin Figs. 2, 5 and 10',

the clamping members 34 are fixedly mountf ed in the ends of two lever arms 38 pivoted at 40 011. the frame of the machine and having enlarged end portions 42. (Fig. 5-) each'slotted to provide aguidewa'y for a block 44-slidably mounted therein; For holding the. block .44 at the lower end of its, guideway there is pro vided a spring 46 which is under compression between a surface on the block44-anda disk 48- at the end ofiascrew threaded sleeve 50, theilatter being rotatable to adjustthe disk 48- in directions toward and from the seat on the block. 44 so as to vary the tension on the spring 46, a lock nut. 5 2,being provided to hold the sleeve 50 in adjusted position. EX- tending through. the sleeve 50 is a rod 54 having itsends screw threaded, one end for engagement with the block 144 and the other end for the reception ofadjusting and lock nuts 56,v the purpose of the rods 54 in the clamping-bars '34 is-controlled by the operating'means for thelevers38 which give to the levers. a downward movement 'of'predeter mined extent l-nFigs. 1 and 13, another mounting of work clamping means shown in which the-clamping bar 35 maygrip the piece of work the nore firmly the greater the tension on the work becomes during cutting operations, the .bar 35 being eccentrically mounted in the blocks 45cwhich are, similar in many resp'ectsto blocks44: Ateach end of the clam'pingbar35thereisprovided a disk .60 rigidly secured thereto andhaving aslotted por-' t1onat62 into which pro ects a pm 64 fixed in the block 45,-a spring 66Lbeing provided for yieldingly holdingthe clamping bar 35- and the disk 60 withashoulder at one end of the slot inconta'ct with 'the pin 64. It will be observed that the-eccentricportion of the clamping bar -35=-faces toward the front of the machine so that anytendency of the piece of work.18to be drawn along with the cut ters ,wouldibe. restrained by a slight turning movement of theiclamping barhaving the effect of gripping the work even more securely against a lower .clamp inember 67 similar to member 20 but having only one curved clamp surface instead of the two at 32 in member 20. For operating the clamping bar levers 38 cam slots 70 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) are provided in disk'members 72 rigidly secured to shaft 74,- a roller 76 being carried by a pin 78 secured to the lever 38, thesha-pe of the cam slot 7 0 being such that for each half revolution ofdisks 72 the levers 38 will be moved to closing position and subsequently to open position to releasethe work from the clamping bar 34 and its co-operating clamping member 20.

For splitting 0d from the thick portions of the head and neck of hides and skins suflicient substance to reduce the head and neck portions to the thickness of the body portion of the hide or skin,-there is provided in the illustrated machine a cutter 84 (Fig. 11)

mounted in a cutter bar 86 guided for reciprocation in a cutter head 88 which is yieldingly mounted for slidingmovement within a frame consisting of two side members 90 (Fig. '10). Reciprocation of the cutter, it may be stated, is in the direction of its length and in a direction transverse of the bodily movement of the cutter over and through the work, to produce an effective drawing cut. For securing the cutter 84 to its bar 86 there is provided a clamp member 92 which is substantially of the same length as the cutter and has a slanting clamp surf-ace 94 for engaging withthe cutter 84 to clamp it against the bar 86, screw threadedmembers, one of which is shown at 96 (Fig. 11) being employed for the purpose of drawing the clamp member, 92 tightly against the cutter. Preferably, and as shown, the cutter 84 may be adjusted by means of set screws 98, the adjustment taking place after such manipulation of the members 96 as will permit the block 92to release the cutter. For

. holding the cutter bar 86 to the cutter head 88 there is provided a clamp and guide member 89 as most clearly shown in Fig. 11. In order that a cutter may be in position to operate promptly upon the work very shortly after the machine starts an operation there are preferably provided two cutters 84 with their corresponding cutter bars 86 and cutter heads 88 both mounted within the side frame members 90 at opposite points therein. Hence, the description of one cutter 84, with its supporting and operating means, will be found equally applicable to the other cutter. For reciprocating the cutters 84 there is provided a lever 100 (Figs. 1 and 10) having a central hub portion 102 pivotally mounted'on stud 104 upon a sleeve 106, part of a housing hereinafter described, which rotates with the shaft 74, the ends of the lever 100 being connected by links 108 each to a cutter bar 86. Pivoted at 110 to the'link 100 is a pitman 112 operatingfrom an eccentric 114 0n-astub shaft 116 carried by brackets 118 mounted onand movable with the shaft 74. Secured to the shaft 116 is a spiral gear 120 which is constantly in mesh with a spiral gear 122 on a shaft 123 supported by bracket 118, the shaft 123 being arranged to be driven by a sprocket 125 secured thereto and driven from a sprocket 133 loosely mounted on shaft 74, a

chain 137 extending between the two sprockets. F or driving sprocket 133 there is provided a chain 127 which is driven from power shaft 129 through a sprocket 131 fixedly secured thereto. Through the eccentric 114 the lever 100 is rocked rapidly to cause reciprocation of both cutters 84, reciprocation of the cutters continuing while the machine is in operation. By thus reciprocating the cutters while they are being bodily moved along over portions of the work, a drawing cut is produced which is distinctly advantageous since it results in cleaner cutting of the work while at the same time minimizing the tendency to overstretch the work.

' It is to be understood that the cutters 84, together with the cutter heads 88, are rotated bodily during rotation of the shaft 74 to which the side frames 90 are securely attached. Hence, when a piece of work is clamped on the work support 14 and the machine is started in operation, one of the cutters 84 is caused to move along a path at a predetermined distance from and concentrically with respect to the curved cylindrical surface 16 so as to cut off all portions of the work in excess of a predetermined thickness for which the cutter is set. In Figs. 3 and 7 the lower cutter 84 is shown severing a part 139 from the hide or skin 18 while in Figs. 4 and 8 the operation has just been completed. Preferably, and as shown, each cutter is automatically adjusted, being controlled by the work itself, as will be explained, so that the head and neck portions after being operated upon, will be reduced to a thickness corresponding closely to the thickness of the body portion of the hide or skin. Hence, when a hide or skin 18 is thrown over the clamp member 20 with the head and neck portion resting upon the curved surface 16, suflicient of the body portion of the hide or skin is also thrown over the bar 20 so that a portion of the hide or skin which represents substantially the thickness of the whole body of the skin is presented at the upper part of the curved surface 16 where it may be gaged by gaging means comprising a gage member 130. As illustrated, the gage member is operative to nove its associated cutter 84 to a position of adjustment such that the cutter will cut off all portions of the head and neck of a given hide or skin which represent excess thickness over the thickness gaged by the gage member 130. It is to be understood that each cutter has associated with it a gage memout-ward position by means of springs132;

her 130 so that theidescription of one will *applygequally to'the other, ,Referring particularly to' Figs.'.1, i6 and .10, it will'b-egob-f served that the gage member 130 ismounted in thekcuterqh'ead 88" and that the V cutter head is) slidably mounted within the side frames 90,-being held yieldingly ininitlal For reasons hereinafterstated, the gage memher 130 is yieldingly mounted inithe cutter head 88., the gage member 130 having a plurality of posts 13 1 rigid with the member 130 and projecting down into closelyfitting sockets135. (Fig. 6) withinthe cutter head 88, the lower end of each post 134 being bored to'reeeive a spring 136 which tends to keep the gagemember pressed outwardly to a position determined by the screw threaded member 138 with its setnuts 139 (Fig.

Through .proper manipulationof the nuts 139, the gage may be adjusted with respect to the cutter head and cutter. In this way the plane of the cut may be varied with respect to the gaged thickness of the work. In other words the plane of the cut does notnecessarily have to be in the plane of that surface of the work selected for gaging purposes. Byreason of this capability of adjustment,othelthickness of the head and neck portions of a hideor skin, after ancheeking operatiomdnaybe I greater than the thickness of that portion of the hide selectedforgaging purposes. However,.the cutter iscontrolled by the gage and is automatically set with respect to the parts to be cut as eachpiece of work in turn is operated upon.

Since the springs 136 are considerably stronger thanthe springs 132 the latter will yield when the gage member engages with a. piece of work backed by the curved cylindrical work supporting surface 16, thus permitting inward-fmovement (that is, move- W v ment' toward the shaft 7 1) of the gage 130 and of cutter head 88 together with thecutter 84 carried thereby.- This gaging of the work andconsequent adjustment of the'cutter 8a takes place when the gage member 130engages with that portion of the hide'or skin whlch 1s located upon the upper part of the cylindrical worksupporting surface 16 where the body portion of the hide, nextgto the thickened neck portion, has been introduced to serve as a control for the gage, since it is to this thickness that it is;desired to reduce the unusually thick neck'and head portions of the hide or skin. Upon reference to Fig. 6, it willbe observed that each cutter head 88is retained within the frame members 90 means of rods 150, one at each end of-the head, which pass through the sockets containing the springs 132, the said rods being provided with adjusting and locking nuts 152 so that each cutter head 88 may be adjusted with respect to the curved work supporting surfacelfi. Furthermore, surrounding each rod is'a sleeve 154 having at its inner, end a disk 156 for cojntactwith the spring 132, the arrangement being such-that thesleeve 154 may be rotated tdadjust the disk and thus vary the tension o'f thespring 132. Upon inspectionof Fig. 6,, it' will be observed that the springs 132 for each cutter block are located near one edgejofthe cutter block and not along a. longitudinal media-uline of the block.l I The reason for'this resides in the fact that the gage member .1 30, which contacts with the work first andwith a very considerable pressure, is located not along alongitudinal median line of thecutter headbut closely adjacentone side of the cutter head,

Hence, the'springs 132 are so located as to take this thrust in substantially the plane of the gage member 130."

.After an'ad'usting movement of the cutter head 88 accordance with the position of the gage member 130 has taken place, a locking means becomes operative to lock the cutter head with its cutter in adjusted position so that during the cutting operations the cutter may be maintained at the gaged distance from the work supporting surface 16. In the construction shown, the locking means referred to comprises a plurality of rack bars 160 (Fig. 6) integral with the cutter head .88 adjacent to eachend thereof, it being obvious, however, that the rack bar may be a separate element fixedly secured to the cutter head. For

co-operation with the rack bars 160 there is provided a shaft l62'having a pinion 164 adjacent each end thereof arranged in mesh with the teeth of the associated rack bar. Upon movement of the cutter head 88 within its guides in the side frames 90, due to pressure on the gage 130, the 'shaft162 will be rotated and in its. rotation a ratchetwheel wheel 166 so that the gaging bar .130 may move the cutter head'88 to a position determined by the thickness of the work'resting against the upper portion of the work supporting surface 16. For thus operating the pawls there is provided a pin 17 2 which contacts with pawl while pawl 168 is operated from pawl 170 by the latter contacting with a pin 171 extending sidewise from pawl 168. The pin 172 is stationary in space, being supported in fixed position by a member 173 carried by apart of the machine frame.

Through contact with the pin172 the pawls are turned about their'pivotal axes and against the tension of springs 174C, 17 6to re-.

I whereuponthey move into contact with the i an ratchet wheel .166 and thereby lock the cutterhead in its adjusted position.

Preferably, and as shown, a work spreadingmeans is provided for spreading out the piece of work in advance of the operation of the'cutter. Conveniently, the gage member 130 is constructed to serve also as a spreading means by providingthe gaging surface with a plurality of ribs 180, slanting in oppositedirections from-a median point-in the length of the gage member, as most clearly shown in Fig; 10 of'the drawings. Since this combined gage and spreader member 130 moves along over the work in advance of its associated cutter 84 it follows that it should be. mountedinthe cutter head 88 to yield after the latter is locked to accommodate itself to any considerable variations in the thickness of the work, otherwise it might injure'thework by too great pressure, especially at the thicker portions thereof. It is forthis reason that the member 130 isbacked by yielding springs 136.

1Powerjisfurnished for causing rotation of the cutterqheads and reciprocation of the cuttersthrough a pulley 180 adapted to receive; a belt (not; shown) driven from any suitable source of power. As shown, this pulley,180is fast upon the shaft 129 (Fig. 1)' whichcarries a pinion 181 adapted to be clutche'dthereto by movement of the yoke member 182. (Figs. land 10). Arranged in mesh with pinion-181 is a large gear 183 securedto shaft 74:, so that the latter is drivenwhenever pinion 181 is clutched to shaft 129 byclutchmeans (not shown). At the same time that the clutch is'thrown in through I link connection "184 leading to the treadle 186, alatch member 210 at the upper end of leverarm 211 is withdrawn from a socket 212 or 214, whichever socket it-happens to be resting in atthetime, the sockets 212, 21 1 being-provided in one of theframe members 90which are rigidly secured to the shaft 74. As soon as the machine starts in operation the operator releases the treadle, so that durj ing the rotation of the shaft 74 and the frame members 90, the end of the latch member 210 rides alon upon the peripheral portion 213 of the adjacentmemb-er 90 thus keepingthe' clutch engaged until the other socket comes along at the end of a half rotation whereupon-the latch member 210 drops into the socket, thereby disconnecting the clutch and at the same time locking the cutter carrying members 90 against further rotation. It will bereadily understood thenthat the cutter heads secured within the frame members 90 make a half revolution about the axis of the shaft 74 and then come to rest with one of the cutters 84 positioned as closely adjacent to the clamping bar 20 as possible while, at the same time providing a space suliioient between the cutter and the clamping bar to permit ready introduction of the work. When the machine is started in operation the cutter, in the position shown in Fig. 1 above the clamping bar 20, immediately descends and operates upon the work while during p its operation the other cutter moves around toward the initial position of rest of the first cutter.

In operating the illustrated machine, a hide or skin is introduced by having its'head and neck portions thrown over the clamping bar 20 so that they may rest upon the concave cylindrical surface 16. As already stated in the foregoing specification, all of the head and neck portions should thus be introduced and also enough of the body portion of the hide or skin so that the gage member 130 may contact therewith to obtain the thickness dimension to which it is desired to reduce the normally thicker and heavier neck and head portions. Upon depressing the treadle 186 the clutch is thrown in to cause rotation of the shaft 74 whereupon the cutter heads are revolved to bring the adjacent cutter head 86 with its associated gage member 130 into contact with the-work restingupon the upper part of the work supporting surface 16. At the instant the gage member 130 reaches the work the cutter head 88 is unlocked momentarily so that the gage bar through its contact with the work may shove the cutter head away from the surface 16 in the gaging operation. In thus moving the gage and the cutter head, thecutter 84 is adjusted to a position deter mined by the thickness of the work at the time in gaging position on the surface 16. As the cutter head continues in motion in the same direction the I pawls 168, 17 O are permitted to re-engage with the ratchet wheel 166, thereby locking the cutter head with its cutter 84 inadjusted position so that in its operation the head and neck portions of the hide or skin will be reduced to the thickness of the work with which the gage member 130 contacted during its gaging operation. During rotation of the cutter heads, the cutters are reciprocated to increase their cutting of ficiency. Upon completing one-half of a revolution about the axis of the shaft 74, the cutter heads come to rest with the other outter in position above and to the right of the clampbar 20, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. Just as the cutter head is coming to rest the clamping bar 34 or 35 is lifted to release the hide or skin. When this occurs the checked neck and head portions of the hide or skin are immediately withdrawn without cutter on the work.

any effort on the part ofthe'operator, since the Weight of the larger and heavier portion of the hide or skin outside of the machine operates toWithdraW the head and neck portions away from the supporting surface 16. The machine is then ready for the introduction of a fresh piece of Work.

Having described our invention,what we claim as new and desire to, secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

' 1. In a machine for splitting ofi' portions from the heads and necks o'f hides and skins, a: support for backing a piece of work, a cutter for operating on the Work mounted for movement toward and from the support, and means, connected to the movable cutter, for engaging a portion ofthe Work Where it is backed by the support and operative to cause relative adjustment of the cutter and the Worksupp'ort before the operation of the 2. In af machine for splitting ofi' portions from the heads and necks of hides and skins,

a support for backing apiece of Work, a

cutter mounted for movement toward the Work sup'port, and a gage member mounted to move with the movable cutter to engage a port'i'onfof the Work Where it is backedflby the support and operative to cause relative ad justment of the Work support and the cutterin accordance with the thickness of the Work. i A V 8,;In a machinefor splitting off portions from the heads and necks of hides and skins, asupport'for backing a piece of Work, a cutter for operating on thework, a cutter head for carrying the cutter, means for ,y'ieldingly moving the cutter head toward the work. and

a gage member, carried by the cutter head, for engaging portion of the Work Where it is backed by the support and adjusting the movable cutter in accordance With the thickness of the work. i i

4. In a machine for's'plitting oil. portions from the heads and necks of hides and skins, a'support for backing a piece of work, a cutter for operating on the Work, said cutter being movably mounted, means for engaging a portion of the Work Where it is backed by the support and adjusting the movable cutter n acccrdancewith. the thicknessof the 7 Work, and means for subsequently locking the cutter in its adjusted position. b r i l 5. Ina machine for splitting hides, skin's, leather, and other similar pieces of Work, a support for backing a piece of Work,a cutter for, operating on the work, a cutter head in whichthe cutter is mounted, said cutter head being mounted for movement toward and from the work, a gage member carried by the cutter head for'engaging a portion of the Workwhereiit is backed by the support and operativeto adjust the'niovable cutter head and the cutter supported thereby relatively to the Work, and means for subsequently locking the cutter head in'its adjusted position.

6. In a machine for splitting hides, skins,- leather, andother similar pieces of work, .a'

support for a piece of ork, a cutter for operating on the ork, a cutter head in which the cutter is V mounted, said cutter head belng' mounted for movement toward and from the leather, and other similar'pieces of work, a

support for backing a piece of work,a cutter for operating on'the work, said cutter being mounted for movement toward and'from the Work, and a member, movable with the cutter,

for engaging a portion oft-he- Work Where it is backed by the support foradjusting the movable cutter relatively tothe'work, said member serving also as'a spreadingmeans to spread out the'work prior to the operation of the cutter.

8. Ina machine for'splitting hides, skins,

leather, and other similar pieces'of Work, a

supportfor backing a piece of work, a cutter for operating on the work, and a gage member for engaging a portion of the ork where it is backed by the support for adjusting the cutter relatively to the work, said gage memher having ribs on its surface extending in opposite directionsfromthe transverse median line of the member for causing spreading of the work prior to the operation of the cutter.

' 9. In a cheeking machine, a support for backing a hide or skin to be checked, a clamp orskin, said cutter being movable toward and i from the work support before operation on the Work begins, and a member for engaging the body portion of the hide or skin where it is backed by the support and operative'as' a gage to set the movable cutter tothe thickness of the hide orskin where it is engaged the said member.

10. In-a cheeking machine, a support for backing a hide or skin to be checked, a clamp for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the support, a cutter for splitting off a portion a from the head and neck portions of the hide or skinysaid cutter being movable toward and from the work support before operation on the Work begins, and a member for engaging the body portion of the hide or skin Where able cutter, a gage'member associated it is'backed by the support and operative as a gage to set the movable cutter to the thicknessot' the hide or skin where it is engaged by thesaid member, and means for subsequently locking the cutter in its set or adjusted position.

'11. In a checking machine, a support for backing a hide or skin. to be cheeked, a clamp for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the'support, a cutter bodily movable along overthe work support for splitting off a portion from the head'and neck portions of the hide or skiiusaid cutter being movable toward and from the work support before operation on the work begins, and a member for engaging the body portion ofthe hide or skin where it is backedby the support and operative as a gageto set the movable cutter to the thickness of the hide or skin where it is engaged by the said 1116H1b61.f.

12. In a machine for evening; hides'o'r skins, a support for a hide or skin, a cutter, a cutter head in which thecutter is mounted, and a gage member mounted upon the cutter head for engaging a portion of the work to adjust th'ecutter with respect to the work prior to its operation on the work, said cutter, head being 'mounted to yieldunder pressure 01" the gage member.

' 13. "In a machine for splitting hides, skins, leather, and other similar pieces of work, a support for ahideor skin to be spiit, a mov with the cutter and automatically operative to adjustthecutter with respect to the "work prior to its operation on the work, and means for locking thecutter inits adjusted position priorto its operation on the work.

14. 111 a machine for splitting hides, skins, leather, and other similar pieces of work, a support for a hide or skin tobe split,a cutter mounted for movement toward a hide or skin on the support, and means for gaglnpythe thickness of the body portion of the hide or skin and for automatically adjusting; the cutter in accordance therewith.

' 15. In a machine for splitting hides. skins, leather, and other similar pieces of work. a support for a hide or skin to be split, a cutter mounted for movement toward abide or skin on the support, and a gaging member mov able with the cutter relatively to a gaging portion of the work before the cutter becomes operative to split off a piece from the thickened head and neck portions ofthe hides and skins.

' 16 In a machine for splitting hides, skins, leather. and other similar pieces of work, a support fora hide or skin to be split, a cutter,

a cutter head in which the cutter is mounted,

means for yieldingly pressing the cutter head, toward the work, and means associated with the movable cutter head'for adj listing" the latter with respect to the hide 'or skin to-predetermine the thickness'towhich, the hide or skin will be reduced after the splitting operation.

17. In a machine for splitting hides, skins, leather, and other similar pieces of work, a support for a hide or skin to be evened in thickness,a cutter movable toward and away from a hide or skin on the support, a cutter head in which the cutter is mounted, means for yieldingly pressing the cutter head to ward the work, and means controlled by engagement with the hide or skin for adjusting the cutter with respect thereto to predetermine the thickness to which the hide or skin will be reduced after the evening operation.

18. In a machine for splitting hides, skins, leather, and other similar pieces of work, a support for a hide or skin to be evened in thickness; a cutter mounted so as to be movable bodily along over the work support at a predetermined distance therefrom to cut oil portions of excess thickness from the hide or skin, a cutter head for supporting the cutter yieldably with respect to the hide or skin, and gage means mounted on the cutter head for controlling it to cause the cutter to be adjusted to the thickness of a selected portion of the work.

19. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked, means for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the support, a cutter movableibodil'y along over the work support at a predetermined distance therefrom to cut'oltieXcess portions from the hide or skin, and means tormovi 11g the cutter in the direction of its length'during its bodily movementwith respect to the work so as to eftecta drawingcut upon the work.

20. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skinto be checked, means for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the support, a cutter'movable bodilyalong'over the work support at a ,DI'GClQtQI'HllIlGd distance therefrom to cut oil excess portions from the hide or skin, and power means for reciprocating the cutter during its bodily movement over the-work support so as to effect a dra-u ing: cut upon the work.

21. In a checking machine, a supportfor a hide or skin to be checked, means for clamp-' ing a hide or skin temporarilyto the work support, a cutter for operating on hides and skins to split of? portions of excess thickness, a cutter head for supporting: the cutter, a gage associated with the cutter in the cutter head for adjustingthe cutter head and cutter with respect to the work prior to a cutting operation thereon, and means for mounting the gage yielding'ly in the cutter head 22. In a checking machine, a support for 2 hide or skin to be checked, means for clamping a hide or skin temporarily to the work support, a cutter for operating on hides and skins to split off portions oiexcess thickness, a cutter headfor supporting the cutter, a combined gage and spreader for the work I mounted the cutter head for adjusting the latter with respect to the Work prior to'a cutting operation, and means for mounting in the cutter head. 1

28. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin tobe cheeked, said support having'alconcave work supporting surface, a cutterforoperating upon the hide or skin, means for bodily moving the cutter along the combined gage and spreaderyieldingly a path. concentric with respect to the cone cave surface of the work support, and means for moving the cut-ter in a direction trans- ;verse to its bodily movement so as: to eh'ect a drawing out upon the work during its bodily movement withrespect to the work.

. '24."In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be cheeked, said support having a concave work supportingsurface,

a cutter for operating upon hides and skins,

, a cutter head for supporting the cutter, means for moving the'cutter head along a path concentric with respect to the concave surface of the Work support thereby causing the cutter to pass along over the work supporting surface at a predetermined distance there- "from, and-means associated with the cutter head to adjust the cutterjto thethickness of the body portion of the hide or skin being operated upon.

25. In acheeking'machine, a support having a supporting surface for' a hide or skin to be cheeked, a cutter for operating upon hides and skins, a cutter head for supporting a cutter,-a supporting frame'in'which the cut-' ter head is slidably mounted, means for rotating the frame,- thereby causing the cutter to pass over the work supporting surface, and agage member associated with the cutter head and controlled by the work for can-sing relative adjustment of the cutter and the Work support prior to the operation of the cutter on the work.

26. In a machine for reducingthe thickness of portions of hides, skins, leather, and other similar pieces of work, a stationary support having a supporting surface for a piece of Work, means for temporarily securing the work to; the support with a portion ort havin a su ortin surface for a )iece V b D of work, means for temporarily securing the work to the support with a portion thereof resting on said surface,a cutter, means for moving the cutter bodily along over the work supporting'surface, and meansfor. moving the cutter transversely to the direction of its bodily movement tov cut off portions of the work thus to reduce the thickness of certain parts of the piece of work.

ing a concavecylindrical supporting surface for a hide or skin to be cheeked, a clamp for ter about an axis at the center of the cylindrical work supporting surface whereby the cutter is caused to move along a path concentric with respect to the concave work supporting surface to operate upon thezworkbacked'by the said surface.

29. In a checking machine, a stationary support having a concave cylindrical supporting surface for backing a hide or skin to be cheeked, a clamp for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the support, a cutter for splitting off a portion from the head and neck portions of the hide or skin, a memher for engaging the body portion of the'hide or, skin where it is backedbythe support and operative as a gage to set the cutter to the thickness of the hide or skin where it is engaged 'by thesaid member, and means for operating the cutter over the worksupporting surface to reduce the thickness of the head and neck portions of the hide or skin. Y

'30. In a checking machine, a stationary support for a hide or skin to be checked having a concave cylindrical work supporting surface of a length and width to support the headland neck portions of a hide or skin in extendedcondition, means for clamping a hide orskin temporarily to the work support with the head and neck portions thereof resting on the support, a cutter of a length to extend completely across the head and neck 28. In a checking machine, a support havportions of a hide or skin for operating there- 7 on to split off portions of excess thickness, a frame for supporting the cutter, said frame being mounted'to turn on an axis at the center of the cylindrical work supporting surface, and means for rotating the frame through a predetermined angular distance at each cycle of the machine to cause the cutter to complete a cheeking operation upona hide or skin in position on the work support.

31. In a checking machine, a stationary support for a hide or skin to be checked hav ing a concave cylindrical work supporting surface, means for clamping aflhide or skin temporarily to the work support with the head and neck portions thereof resting on the shpport, a plurality of cutters, each operative to split off portions from apiece of work, a frame for s pporting the cutters, said frame being mounted to turn on an axis at the center of, the cylindrical work supporting surface, and means for rotating the frame a predetermined amount to cause a given cutter to operate upon, a hide or skin in position on the work support, means being provided for bringing the frame to a stop after the operation'of the cutter so that a fresh piece of work may be introduced for treatment by another cutter.

32. In a checking machine, a support for 2. hide or skin tobe checked, a plurality of cutters for operating on hides and skins to split off portions of excess thickness, a frame for, supporting the cutters, and means for rotating the frame a predetermined amount to cause one of the cutters to operate upon a hide or skin in position on the work support, said. means comprising a stop for holding the frame in a position of rest with one of the ,outters spaced a relatively short distance from the work when it is upon the support,

f 33., In a cheeking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked having a concave cylindrical work supporting surface, means for clamping a hide or skin temporarily to the work support, two cutters for operating on hides and skins-to split off portions of excess thickness, a frame for supporting the cutters, said frame being mounted to turn on an axis at the center of the cylindrical work supporting surface, means for rotating the frame to cause each of the cutters in turn to operate upon a hide or skin in position on the work support, and means for imparting a drawing-cut movement to the cutter operatingon the work during movement of the cutter along with the frame.

.34. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked having a concave cylindrical work supporting surface, means for clamping a hide or skin temporarily to the work support, two cuttersfor operating on hides and skins to split off portions of excessthickness, a frame for supporting the cutters, said frame being mountedto turn on ftl'lhXlS at the center of the cylindrical work supporting surface, and means'for rotating the frame a predetermmed amount at each cycle of the machine to cause each of the cut- .tersfin turn to operate upon a'h de or skin injposition on the work support, said means comprising a stop for holding the frame in a positionrof rest with one of the cutters spaced a relatively short distance from the work when it is clamped upon the support.

35. In a checking machine, a support for ahide or skin'to be checked, a plurality of cutters for operating upon pieces of work placed upon the support, and means controlled by the work for adjusting the cutters to the-thickness of the work so that portions I ofexcessive thickness may bereduced during the'operation of the cutters. 4

In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be cheeked, a plurality of cutters for operating upon pieces of work on the support, a plurality of cutter heads in each of which a cutter is mounted, means for moving the cutter heads with their associated cutters in succession toward the work, and means associated with the cutter heads'and operated by contact with the work for adjusting the cutters with respect to the work.

37. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be cheeked, a plurality of cutters for operating upon pieces of work clamped upon the support, a plurality of cutter heads in each of which a cutter is mounted, means for yieldingly pressing the cutter heads toward the work, and means associated with the cutter heads for auto matically adjusting the latter to predetermine the thickness to which the hide or skin will be reduced after the cheeking operation.

38,111 a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked, means for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the sup port, a plurality of cutters for operating upon a hide or skin, means for moving the cutters bodily along the support at predetermined distance therefrom, and interconnected means for reciprocating the cutters during their bodily movement.

39. In a cheeking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked, a clamp for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the support, a plurality of cutters for operating upon pieces of work clamped upon the support, and a gage member associated with each cutter for adjusting the cutter in accordance with the thickness of the work prior to its operation on the work.

40. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked, a clamp for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the support,'a cutter for operating upon pieces 01. work clamped upon the support, and a gage member associated with the cutter for adjusting the latter in accordance with the thickness of the work prior to its operation on the work.

41. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked, a clamp for temporarily securing the hide or skin to the support, aplurality of cutters for operating upon pieces of work clamped upon the support, a gage member associated with each cutter for adjusting the cutter with respect to the work priorto its operation on the work, and means for locking each cutter in its adjusted position prior to its operation on the work.

42. In a checking machine, a support having a supporting surface for a hide or skin to be cheeked, a cutter for operating upon hides and skins, a cutter block for carrying the cutter, a frame for slidably supporting the cutter block, means for rotating the frame about an axis parallel to the work I Sap orung"surfac a gage ineinber con- 7 bodilyiniot ein trollec llhy thework toradj ust in'g the cutter ith respectto the Worl ,'arid" means for re- Ciprocating the cutter during its "bodily 'inovernent along over the surface of thework nPQ 43.111 a cheeking Inachinefa support for a=hicle or skin to he cheeked having'a concave oylindrioal supporting surface "for the Work, means for temporarily clamping the hide or skin-upon the work 'supporh' a 'cuttertQr operating tlie'hideor.skin,means for rotatingJt-hecutter aboiltian axis at the center of I the cylindrical supporting surface, and

ineanst'ormoving' the cutter in' a direction transrerseto' its bodily'nioventent so as to effect a cl ra wingcutupon the ork during its ent 'fwith respect to; the Work.

' 44 In a:.joheekinglinachine, a. supportfh vmg a, supporting surface {for hide orskin 1a; e esarean'plaranty of cutters for operating upon .d'es and skinsia[plurality of cutter headsleachsuppofrting cutter,

asiipportingfraine nWhich the cutter heads are inounted, deans {for rotating the frame, therebycausing eaclrcu'tter inft'u'rn to pass along over the Work supporting surface, and means for"reciprocatirigreach cutter in its supporting head hileit is passing over the work supportin 'surface, f a5; a cheeking .rnachine,

a support: having asupportingsurface for a'hide or skin to v be cheeked a plurality of cutters grope atingupon hides and shine, a plurality of cutter blocks; each. sli dably carrying a" cutter,

frame for slidably supporting the; cutter biocks, means for rotatingthe tranieabout an axis parallel to the Workfisupporting surface, a; gage matte "associated with 1 each cutter block" for adjusting the cutter with respect to. the Work, and means forinoving the cutters in a direction parallelto the axis Y of rotation thetr'ame duringrotation of z; to Leechethe franie effect a drawing out upon the the Workeupporting'surtace. I r

j at, a checking machine, a 's'upporthava supportingsurface for a hide or skin d, aplurality of critters for operhn'lcs and ski-n s to-split ofi' excess portionsthereof, acylindrical-frame for supporting the-cu-tterasaid fr'aine being mounted to turn on an axis, parallel to the Work supporting. uriaee, ameansfor rotating the frame ,a predetermined'ialnount at each cycle 01"- the machine to cause one o'fthe cutters to operate upon a hide or skin in posi "on on thework dport,-said means comprising a stop forh rdin'gthe {t -main a position of r'with one thec utters spaceda'relatively ista nce" from apiece of ivork u pon the In a cheeking;rnachine,a support tor hidefor skin to be oheeked having a conca' 'e cylindricalsupportingsurface for the the ctitters n H axis ofr'otatron ofthefraines during rotation during bodily j'meve 'ent of the cutter with each'cutter head for adjusting itsassdciated cutter Withrespeet to the Work.

48.111 a cheekingmachine, a support for a hideor skin to be cheeked, having a concave cjilindrical supporting surface for thework, ine'ans torteinporarily clainpin'gthe hide'or skinupon the'work support, a plurality'of cutters for operating upon hides and skins, a

c'utter, a frame for slidahly supporting the cutter blocks, means 'for rotatlng theframe about an axis at the 'c'enter'of the cylindrical Work supporting surface, a rnernber associated witheach cutter 'iorad ustmg the 'cutter with respect to'the ork, means for. reciprocating thefentters during their hodily niov'ementjalong over the surface ot the Work support. V V w a 49/ In a cheekingmaehine, a support for a hidefor skin to be oheeked, having a'concave cylindrical supporting surface for the Work,

means for temporarily clamping the hide or skln upon the Work support, a plurality of cutters for operating upon hides" and skins,

a plurality of cutterblocks e'achcarr t' ingithe "cutter, a trame for, slidably supporting the cutter blocks, means for rotating thefraine about ana'xis' at the center of the "cyl ndrical a plurality, of cutter blocks eaclrcarrying the ated with eachjcutt er' for ad'us'tin the cutter v a 0 A D ttith 'resp'ectto the Work, and means for mov- "ch rections parallel to the of thetrarnes to carry'the cutters past the work" support; f f

"soglm; cheeking machine, a" support for a hide orskin to'he 'oh'e eked having a concave ,"cylindrical"Work supporting st rfzwe, means for clamping a hide, or skinjtemporarily to the worksu'pport, a plurality of cutters for operating on hides and skins to splitofl excess portions thereof, a cylindricahframe for supporting ampute s; said frame being niountedtoturn on anaxlsiat the center of the cylindrical Work supporting-surface, v

means for rotating the frame to cause-one of the c'uttersto' operate upon 'a'hide or skin in position on the" Work support, means "for oausing siinult'aneouslywith the rotation of the, frame reciprocation of the cutters so that V the latter foper'atef upon. the Work with a drawing out, and means for'adjusting each cutter 'in' turn at a "predetermined distance front the curved .Work 3 supporting surface prior to its 'operationupon the workf 151." Ina chee'king nachine, asupport for a hide or skin to be checked having a concave cylindrical work supporting surface, means for clamping a hide or skin temporarily to the worksupport, a plurality of I cuttersfor operating on hides and skins to 1 split off excess portions thereof, a cylindrical frame for supporting the cutters, said frame being mountedto turn on an axis at the center of the cylindrical work supporting surface, means for'rotating the frame to cause one of the cutters to operate upon a hide or skin in position on the work support, means for causing simultaneously with the rotation of the frame reciprocation of the cutters so that the latter operate upon the work with a drawing cut, and a gage asso- 'ciated with each cutter for adjusting it with respect to the work prior to its operation thereon.

52. In a checking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be cheeked having a concave cylindrical Work supporting surface,

rotation of the frame reciprocation of the cutters so that the latter operate upon the work with a drawing cut, and gage members 7 for engaging with abody portion of a hide or skin to set the cutters at the thickness thereof at the gaged point priorto the operation of the cutters on the work.

53. In a chceking machine, a support for a hide or skin to be checked having a concave cylindrical work supporting surface, means for clamping a hide or skin temporarily to the work support, a plurality of cutters for operating on hides and skins to split 0E excess portions thereof, a cylindrical frame for supporting the cutters, said frame being mounted to turn on an axis at the center of the cylindrical work supporting surface, means for rotating the frame to cause one of the cutters to operate upon ah de or skin in position on the work support, means for causing simultaneously with the rotation of the frame reciprocation of the cutters so that the latter operate upon the work with a drawing cut,

a gage member for engaging with a body portion of a hide or skin to set each cutter at the thickness of the work at the gaged point prior to its operation on the work, and means for locking the cutter in its adjusted position prior to its operation on the work.

54. In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather, and other similar pieces of work, a support having a supporting surface for apiece of work, a cutter for operating on the piece of Work, a rotary clamping member,ar'ms for carrying the clamping member toward'the support for holding the work temporarily secured against a portion of the work supporting surface, said clamping member being eccentrioallly mounted so as to rotate and thereby clamp the work more firmly, and means for. automatically return ing the clamping member a-lwaysto the same initial p'osition'in itssupporting arms following a clamping operation.

55. In a machine for operating on hides, skins,'leather, and other similar pieces of work,a support having a supporting surface for a piece of work, acutter for operating on the work,'a cylindrical member for clamping thework upona portion of the work supporting surface, said cylindrical clamping member being eccentrically mounted, and meansfor movably holding the clamping member in a predetermined initial clamping position, said means being constructed and arranged to permit the clamping' membento 'b'e rotated'by the Work to clamp the work more firmly as the strain thereon is increased. 56.1In a machine for operating on hides, skins, leather, and other similar piecesr'of work, a support having a supporting surface for a piece of work, a cutter for operating on the work, a member forclamping'a piece of work upon a portion of the Work supporting surface,'a stop for locating theclamping member inan initial work clamping position, and aspring 'for'holding the clamping member yi'eldinglyagainst the'stop, said clamping member being rotatably mounted to bring successive portions of its surface to bear upon the work to: clamp the work more firmly as the strain on the work'is increased.

'member against the "stop in aninitial'work clamping position, the spring being adapted to yleld to permit the clamping member to rotate to clamp the work more firmly asthe strain thereon is increased.

58; In amachine for operating onhides. sk ns, leather, and other similar 'pieces 'of vwork, a, support having a supporting "surfacefor a piece of work, said s'upp'ort'having' further a yieldingly' mounted clamping member, a member movable toward the work support and having a member for clamping the work'in co-operationwith the first mentioned clamping'member, the second-mentioned clamping :member being eccentrically mounted for rotary movement, and means 

